Literature

Department website: https://www.sps.northwestern.edu/masters/literature/

Through advanced literary study, students grapple with the thought and creative vision of the world’s most remarkable minds: rediscover and master classic texts while exploring exciting, contemporary works, diverse genres, and cutting-edge ideas in narrative form and interpretation. This broad and stimulating intellectual challenge improves the ability to analyze complex information, challenge assumptions, weigh competing considerations and reach effective conclusions. Graduates of the MALit program are well prepared for application to PhD programs and for success in diverse professional areas from advertising to law. Secondary-school teachers develop a competitive edge by deepening their subject-area knowledge — a key distinction between the MALit program and more general graduate programs in education.

Students must complete nine courses to complete their Master of Arts in Literature degree. Students must complete two core courses, including the capstone project and seven elective courses. Students can take elective courses that cover such topics as comparative literary studies, English, French and Italian, Slavic languages and literatures, and theatre. There are five specializations: American Literature, British Literature, Comparative and World Literature, Interdisciplinary Studies, and Film, Literature and Visual Culture.

Degrees Offered

Literature Courses

LIT 405-0 Topics in Literature (1 Unit)  

Topics vary. May be repeated for credit with different topic.

LIT 405-DL Topics in Literature (1 Unit)  

Topics vary. May be repeated for credit with different topic.

LIT 410-0 Introduction to Graduate Studies in Literary and Cultural Analysis (1 Unit)  

This course considers the relation between art, culture, and society as it has been conceived, problematized and reconceived over time. The course will also prepare students for graduate work in literary and cultural studies with a focus on academic genres of writing and research methods.

LIT 410-DL Introduction to Graduate Studies in Literary and Cultural Analysis (1 Unit)  

This course considers the relation between art, culture, and society as it has been conceived, problematized and reconceived over time. The course will also prepare students for graduate work in literary and cultural studies with a focus on academic genres of writing and research methods.

LIT 480-0 Topics in Comparative Literature (1 Unit)  

Topics vary. May be repeated for credit with different topic.

LIT 480-DL Topics in Comparative Literature (1 Unit)  

Topics vary. May be repeated for credit with different topic.

LIT 492-0 Special Topics (1 Unit)  

Topics vary. May be repeated for credit with different topic.

LIT 492-DL Special Topics in Literature (1 Unit)  

Topics vary. May be repeated for credit with different topic.

LIT 499-0 Independent Study (1 Unit)  

Independent Study.

LIT 590-0 Thesis Research (1 Unit)  

Thesis Research.